News, Program Profiles

Program Profile: Lower Canada College

Founded in 1909, Lower Canada College (LCC) is a coed day school located in Montreal, QC. LCC will play in the Eastern U17 division next season, their first season in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).

PROGRAM PHILOSOPHY AND MISSION STATEMENT

At Lower Canada College, leading by example, we are committed to the fullest development of students in mind, body, and heart, preparing them for success and leadership in a sustainable global society.

In keeping with this mission, our objective as a hockey program is to offer the highest quality product for our student athletes and help prepare them to play at the next level when interested.

LIST OF TEAMS IN THE CSSHL

  • Varsity Hockey (CSSHL Eastern U17 Prep)

We are excited for our Varsity team to enter the CSSHL in 2024-25.

EDUCATION

  • School partners
    • Our school is divided into four sections: Junior School (grades K-6), Middle School (grades 7-8), Senior School (grades 9-11), and Pre-University (grade 12).
    • As members of the Quebec Association of Independent Schools (QAIS), Canadian Accredited Independent Schools (CAIS), and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges (NEASC), we frequently partner and collaborate with like-minded private schools across North America.
  • What are some of the things your program does to provide educational support?
    • LCC has various systems in place to enhance learning and educational support for students of today’s world.
    • The school is well integrated with technology to enrich the learning experience of our students. All classrooms have interactive SMART boards, and our Middle School students are issued iPads while Senior School students are issued laptops.
    • Each grade has a Grade Coordinator in charge of monitoring the academic and behavioural standing of every student in their grade. They foster unique relationships with students and provide support, guidance, and accountability throughout the year. As well, each student is assigned to an advisor and participates in advisory groups of 10-12 students. Advisors support the holistic experience of their advisees.
    • In 2002, LCC established its LEAD (Learning Enrichment and Development) Centre to support the needs of students with diverse learning profiles or accommodations. The centre’s programs afford all students the chance to succeed in the classroom regardless of their learning profiles.
    • Finally, our hockey student athletes participate in mandatory team study hall sessions before late practices or on road trips.
  • How are grades monitored and how often?
    • Our academic year is divided by a trimester system. Students receive midterm and end-of-term report cards each term that inform them of their grades and overall academic standing. The Grade Coordinators will connect with students struggling in any of their classes and monitor their progress until sufficient improvement has been made.
  • How are courses and the graduation path for student athletes chosen?
    • When students enter grade 10, they are assigned an Academic Advisor whom they meet with periodically to explore avenues post graduation. These advisors help students set goals, select courses, and guide them through their respective application processes.
  • Do you have an academic probation policy?
    • LCC has high academic expectations of all its students. Students not meeting their potential in the classroom may be put on academic probation and restricted from sports or other co-curricular activities until progress has been made.

STUDENT ATHLETE HEALTH

  •  How are injuries and sick student athletes monitored?
    • LCC employs two full-time nurses that provide care for sick and injured students throughout the school day. We have an onsite athletic therapy clinic and an athletic therapy team that covers all sport events, assesses injuries, and helps student athletes return to play. Our ATs maintain clear lines of communication with team coaches to provide injury reports and ensure return-to-play timelines are respected.
    • The school employs two full-time counselors that work to support the mental health and wellbeing of our students.

LOCATION & FACILITIES

  • LCC is located on a seven-acre campus in the Monkland Village area of Montreal, close to downtown. On campus we have many state-of-the-art athletic facilities that afford our student athletes the resources and environment needed to work towards their full potential.
  • Our two refrigerated ice surfaces – the Glenn J. Chamandy Arena (indoor) and Miller Rink (outdoor) – host practices and games.
  • The Tsatas Fitness Centre is a fully equipped workout space designed to optimize resistance and cardiovascular training for our student athletes.
  • The Poplar Lounge within the arena is a communal space for students to relax, complete schoolwork, and view hockey games.
  • We have five newly decorated team locker rooms that give each hockey player their own stall for the season.
  • Our athletic therapy clinic provides student athletes a space to receive treatment and work on rehabilitative exercises with ease and comfort. We have four gymnasia used for basketball, volleyball, and physical education, a standard size turf soccer field, and a grass football field.

Photos: https://www.lcc.ca/athletics/facilities

SCHEDULE

  • What does the daily schedule look like for a student athlete in your program?
    • All hockey activities take place either before or after the school day. Students attend five periods from 9:20 AM – 3:55 PM. Outside of these hours, our hockey student athletes may have a practice, workout, video session or study hall. Typically, each team will have a balance of 2-3 practices per week, 1-2 workouts, 2 games, and a full rest day. Weekends are prioritized for games to reduce as much absence from class as possible.
  • How many games can your teams expect to play?
    • We anticipate a schedule of 40-50 games for our Varsity team
  • What does the on and off ice training look like?
    • The focus of our on-ice and off-ice training sessions varies throughout different points in the season.
      • Fall on-ice practices focus on skill development, teaching good hockey habits to carry into the season, and performing at a high pace and in pressure situations. Off-ice training focuses on strength building and adapting the muscles for hockey specific movements.
      • As the season progresses, more team tactics and strategies are introduced in practices. Off-ice training switches to emphasize maintenance of muscular build and cardiovascular fitness.
      • All teams compete in playoffs and hold tryouts for the following season in the spring. Teams do not meet for on-ice sessions during the summer; however, each student athlete is given a strength & conditioning program to follow in order to prepare for the next season.
  • How long does your program run?
    • Our Varsity team will begin practicing in September and finish the season with tryouts for the next season in May. Our other teams run from November to May. If a player not on the Varsity team selects not to participate on a fall sports team, they may attend fall hockey practices and skill development sessions.

KEY STAFF AND CONTACT INFO

Chris Viau : Director of Athletics
cviau@lcc.ca
514-482-9797 ext. 325

Neil Blunden: Head of Hockey
nblunden@lcc.ca
514-482-9797 ext. 227

PRICE

The base fee to play on our CSSHL Varsity Hockey teams is $2500 CAD. All training, coaching, practices, therapy and transportation to away games are included in the fee. Students are also charged for trips and tournaments to cover the hotel and bus fees.

CONTACT

What is the best way to contact the program?